AGENDA - San Antonio Housing Authority

HOUSING AND BUSINESS POTENTIALSHORT-TERM (1–5 YEARS) POTENTIAL FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTEASTSIDE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION PLANDEVELOPMENT TYPE LEADING STRONG LACKING WEAK ASSESSMENTHOUSINGRETAILSingle FamilyMulti-familyLocal/NeighborhoodRetailRegional/GeneralMerchandiseLow incomes and minimal population growth, combined with widespread disinvestmentin existing single-family housing in the Wheatley Courts area are major barriers to newdevelopment. However, revitalization of adjacent neighborhoods (Dignowity Hill andGovernment Hill) could spill over into the Wheatley Courts area.The lack of an existing nearby high-quality market-rate apartment complex, combinedwith vacancy rates that are at or below the region, suggests a gap in the supply of qualityhousing. Multi-family housing that serves military families from Fort Sam Houston and St.Philips College students is a real possibility in the short-term.Retail vacancy rates are low and there are some significant sources of retail leakage thatresult in the loss of retail activity within the Wheatley Courts area, primarily in personalproducts, clothing, and household stores. The high cost of constructing new space comparedto the relatively low prices/square foot for existing retail space is a barrier.The Wheatley Courts area is centrally located within the San Antonio region, but is notwell-suited for large-scale, regional-serving retail such as department stores or majorshopping centers, which gravitate toward either the Central Business District or suburbanemployment/retail centers.RestaurantsThere are some immediate opportunities for small-scale, local restaurants in the WheatleyCourts area, particularly along the New Braunfels Avenue corridor; however, lowincomes and negative perceptions could discourage investment in the short-term.SERVICESHouseholdBusinessSupportPublic/SocialSupportOne of the most promising opportunities for the Wheatley Courts area is the developmentof local-serving household and personal services (home/automobile maintenance,repair, landscaping, etc.) which could be provided by new or existing small businesses.Business support services provide another relatively strong opportunity for the establishmentof new small businesses in the Wheatley Courts area, by leveraging the neighborhood’sproximity to major employers to provide supplies and support services to the majorcommercial/office areas in the Central Business District and to nearby industrial areas.The redevelopment of the public housing complex, along with the high levels of povertyin the neighborhood, provide a unique opportunity for the Wheatley Courts area todevelop a cluster of public/social support facilities, ranging from health clinics to communitycenters that serve the surrounding area.26